England is riding a wave of football fever in 2026. While the sport has deep roots in the country, this year is proving especially significant. Attending a Premier League match was recently highlighted by Lonely Planet in its Best in Travel 2026 experiences list, praising the matchday atmosphere as a unique insight into England’s culture and character.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to kick off soon, anticipation is building across England. To accommodate late-night kick-off times, pub opening hours have been extended for home nations matches, states VisitEngland.
Fan zones and public screenings are being rolled out nationwide, giving supporters plenty of opportunities to watch the action together.
World Cup Fan Zones Across England
For visitors looking to extend their football experience beyond the World Cup, VisitEngland has highlighted a range of football-themed attractions, from stadium tours and VIP experiences to new exhibitions and football-inspired hotel stays.
Major cities will host large-scale fan parks throughout the tournament. The popular 4 The Fans events will bring live screenings and entertainment to Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Newcastle and Manchester.
In Manchester, matches will be shown at Escape to Freight Island as part of the We Are Football Festival 2026, while the historic Victoria Baths will screen every England group-stage match.
Elsewhere, supporters can gather at fan zones at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, while Liverpool’s BOXPARK venue combines football screenings with its well-known street food offering.
Birmingham’s TOCA Social will broadcast every tournament match, and Cornwall’s only stadium-based fan zone will be hosted at Newquay AFC’s Mount Wise ground.
In London, Kick Off Club fan zones will bring a nostalgic 1990s theme to venues including Electric Brixton and HERE at Outernet.
New Football Experiences and Exhibitions
Fresh from securing the Premier League title, supporters can immerse themselves in Arsenal’s history through the VIP Legend Experience at Emirates Stadium. The experience combines behind-the-scenes access with appearances from former club stars and hospitality in the stadium’s exclusive Diamond Club.
Football will also feature prominently at Greater Manchester’s We Invented the Weekend Festival on June 6, where the English National Opera and Walk the Plank will present “Perfect Pitch,” a World Cup-inspired performance involving local choirs and football clubs.
In Brighton, a new exhibition celebrating the 125th anniversary of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. will open at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery this August, charting the club’s journey from near extinction to European competition.
Meanwhile, Manchester’s National Football Museum is hosting “Head, Shoulders, Knees & Goals,” a new exhibition examining the relationship between football, science and the human body through interactive displays and rare memorabilia.
Stadium Adventures and Football-Themed Stays
Fans visiting St James’ Park can now experience a rooftop tour offering panoramic views of Newcastle from 150 feet above the pitch, alongside access to dressing rooms and dugouts.
At Old Trafford, Manchester United supporters can take stadium tours, step onto the pitch as part of the Take to Pitch coaching program, and stay overnight at the football-themed Hotel Football, created by members of the club’s famous Class of ’92.
In North London, visitors to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium can combine a stadium tour with the Dare Skywalk experience, which includes a climb to the roof and a controlled descent from the top of the venue.
Looking ahead, Manchester City’s Etihad Campus will welcome a major new addition in September with the opening of The Medlock, a 401-room hotel operated by Radisson Hotel Group. Directly connected to the stadium, the hotel will feature pitch-view rooms that transform into hospitality suites on matchdays, further cementing Manchester’s status as one of Europe’s leading football destinations.
